The Esthen Exchangelong wait for the first game of the 2024 NFL regular season has been extended a little bit longer.

Kickoff for Thursday night's opener between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs has officially been delayed after lightning struck in the area.

The start of the game, which was originally scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET, is now set for 8:40 p.m. ET.

Players were cleared from the field during pregame warmups, while fans were instructed to make their way from the stands to the concourse.

Isolated thunderstorms also resulted in heavy rain pouring into the stadium about an hour before kickoff.

PLAY TO WIN $5K: USA TODAY's Pro Football Survivor Pool is free to enter. Sign up now!

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.